It may be getting on for 80 years ago, but Leicester’s Blitz Night, on November 19/20, 1940, still remains deeply ingrained in the memories of those who witnessed – and survived – that terrifying seven hours of bombs and flames.

Reader Elizabeth E Mayhew is one such survivor and has kindly written with her dramatic recollections.

“I was very interested in your Mr Leicester article regarding the bombing of Leicester, as I remember the night well,” writes Mrs Mayhew, of Evington.

“I had celebrated my 14th birthday a few days before. My mother had wished me many happy returns in the air raid shelter, when Coventry was being bombed and the sirens had sounded in Leicester.

“I was in my final term at Sir Jonathan North School and was also attending evening school for commercial subjects.

“The evening of the Leicester bombing we were all rushed to the shelters and not allowed to leave for many hours.

“I was late for school the next morning, but a teacher was surprised that I was there at all!

“The very following night, the Germans dropped a land mine on Victoria Park pavilion, where the car park is now. The blast made the glass drop out of the windows of the Co-op at Knighton.

“My husband told me that he and the boys in his class, from a school on the Saffron estate, dug the trenches for the air raid shelters at Sir Jonathan North School.”